Italy Name World Cup Squad

Italy squad: Forwards: Robert Julian Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Tommaso D'Apice, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Sergio Parisse, Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro, Alessandro Zanni, Cornelius Van Zyl.

Backs: Tommaso Benvenuti, Mirco Bergamasco, Riccardo Bocchino, Gonzalo Canale, Pablo Canovosio, Gonzalo Garcia, Edoardo Gori, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Andrea Pratichetti, Fabio Semenzato, Alberto Sgarbi, Giulio Toniolatti.

It's interesting seeing how much better their backs look than they did 2/3 years ago

Indeed, and that back row of Zanni, Bergamasco and Parisse is none too shabby!

Ireland watch out!

Australia watch out....ok maybe not that far

Maybe that far Pete. If their scrum can get the upper hand, they could cause the Australians a lot of trouble.

What's interesting about this squad is the increased quality of the indigenous players especially the backs. There are some good forwards too but they're a World Cup too early.

MBTGOG wrote:Maybe that far Pete. If their scrum can get the upper hand, they could cause the Australians a lot of trouble.

What's interesting about this squad is the increased quality of the indigenous players especially the backs. There are some good forwards too but they're a World Cup too early.

Is that the final 30? Quite early isn't it.

If Italy get on top up front they could cause australia plenty of problems but they won't be able to hold them tryless. And bergamasco is the best kicker around either, he is very inconsistent.

It is the final squad. They are the second team to name their squad after Canada.

France have all but named theirs too. I think there are weaknesses in the tight 5 (outside the scrum) and can't see any creativity. Good options in back 3, back row and scrumhalves.

Mallett only played Benvenuti when he was forced to, I wonder will he play him in the World Cup? He's the one back with a bit of spark about him but Mallett is an incredibly conservative coach.

MBTGOG wrote:Mallett only played Benvenuti when he was forced to, I wonder will he play him in the World Cup? He's the one back with a bit of spark about him but Mallett is an incredibly conservative coach.

In fairness he is quite young.

He is young but considering the troubles they've had getting anything from their backs, it's worth taking risks.

I think the italians will not live up to their billing as they rarely if ever play well out of Italy. I could be wrong and I do hope I am. (Even as an Irish man.)

Indeed, and that back row of Zanni, Bergamasco and Parisse is none too shabby!

Barbieri is a pretty damn good openside as well. Real knack for making a menace of himself at the breakdown.

I think there are weaknesses in the tight 5

The front row are one hell of a unit and I'd back them to compete with the best. The problem is the second row isn't the best and although, they offer a lot of industry they don't always offer that much in the way off skills.

He is young but considering the troubles they've had getting anything from their backs, it's worth taking risks.

Not all that bad in the backs, Canale is class and Masi was awesome in the 6N after they moved him to full back. The important thing is to get a 10 that can get the backs moving. Back three of Benvenuti, Bergamasco and Masi is pretty good with Canale at 13, the 12s can do a job as well all just hinges on the ten turning up.

I'm also interested in seeing young Gori at 9. He had quite a billing from Mallett ahead of the 6 Nations, but got injured early doors and didn't feature for the rest of the tournament.

He looks a very decent player does Gori but Semenzato can do the job as well. What I find funny though is that Tebaldi looked the business when he first came in but then one or two bad performances and he was dumped unceremoniously by Mallett.

I think their general ball skills need to go up a notch or two to be honest. Their set piece is excellent, they have a good backrow in terms of carrying and a pretty tasty back3 but the team don't gel well because they rarely get over 10 phases due to how often the know the ball on and throw bad passes, or keep it safe and rumble around the ruck.

Their hands and their heads (decision making) need to be better.

There's been a definite improvement in those aspects and with better scrum halves coming in there has been a much better continuation of attacking play. I do agree there is a problem when it comes to the forwards taking the ball on as they tend to carry the bulk of the work without the backs doing a great deal. That has moved on slightly in the 6N particularly against the Irish and the French but until they get an international level fly half then it is all somewhat a moot point as they tend to be playing in the wrong areas of the pitch and for a tactically savvy side with a decent counter attack can be picked off (see Wales and England games in the 6N).

Sam I agree with you that the 2nd row is a weakness.

Their lineout isn't great.

I remember England tearing the Italian lineout to shreds.